Developing key concepts for the design of hypertext for printed books
Citation
Export citationTimpany, C. (2009). Developing key concepts for the design of hypertext for printed books. The International Journal of the Book, 7(1), 81-89.
Permanent Research Commons link: https://hdl.handle.net/10289/6591
Abstract
In the modern world, computers and interactivity are becoming an ever-increasing phenomenon, but this means that the tactile appeal of the printed book is giving way to the increasing popularity of digital interactivity. This research explores how one of the integral concepts of computer interaction, hypertext, can be applied to the medium of print and the advantages that this can bring to the reading environment. The interaction used to read a printed book is different to that of reading material in an electronic form. Books are linear, moving forward, whereas electronic material is laterally associative. However, reading material in an electronic form, such as hypertext, allows the readers to customise and reorder knowledge for their own needs. In comparison, navigation of paper documents is aided by the information being fixed, and readers can easily refer to several documents simultaneously. The considerations that need to be made when combining the benefits of two such contrasting media needs careful attention. Six key design concepts applying hypertext methods to books are discussed to assist the production of effective reading media.
Date
2009Type
Publisher
Common Ground
Rights
© 2009 the author